The International Travel & Tourism Awards, a prestigious new awards scheme which celebrates the best of travel and tourism around the world, has opened nominations for its categories.
 
Presented by WTM London, the awards are a first-of-its-kind event that will recognise the success of national, regional and city tourist boards as well as outstanding private sector companies and individuals.

The awards will feature 13 categories, with 12 judged by an independent panel of leading experts and senior figures in each sector. The final award for outstanding contribution to the industry nominated by WTM London Media Partners will be the ultimate finale, which will take place at a glittering awards ceremony in London on November 6.

The illustrious awards scheme is being officially unveiled on March 22 at Awards partner London & Partners' headquarters, with an invited audience of senior travel and tourism professionals.

More than 500 senior industry executives, including government ministers, will attend the impressive awards ceremony at Tobacco Dock, a few stops on the Docklands Light Railway from WTM London’s ExCeL venue. Busses will also transport WTM London delegates to the awards ceremony.

The awards will be co-chaired by UNWTO Sandra Carvao, chief of communications and publications and Reed Travel Exhibitions director Nick Pilbeam. Judges will be from top tourism and industry bodies and organisations including Euromonitor International and public relations body PRCA.

“UNWTO is pleased to partner with WTM in this new initiative. An award is a recognition of value and an incentive to do better and we trust the International Travel & Tourism Awards will inspire the tourism sector to aim higher in order to become ever more competitive and sustainable,” said Carvao.

Steve Miller, Membership & Partnerships director from PRCA & ICCO, added: “The PRCA is proud to support the inaugural International Travel and Tourism Awards, particularly as PR has its own category to recognise excellence in this field.”

Different categories will be judged by experts in those sectors, such as the Global Wellness Institute, World Food Travel Association and Out Now Consulting.

International Travel & Tourism Awards, co-founder, Paul Nelson said: “We are delighted to officially open nominations for the new International Travel & Tourism Awards, presented by WTM.

“With such a distinguished independent panel of respected judges, the winners will know they truly represent the best in their class.
“Entries and nominations will come from right across the world, so the honours will be a definitive global guide to the top professionals in every sector.”

International Travel & Tourism Awards, co-founder, Charlotte Alderslade, added: “The ITTAs offer an unrivalled marketing and PR opportunity as part of the week of WTM London.

“The awards will quickly become a fixture in the industry calendar and a stamp of excellence for the trade and holidaymakers alike.”

Categories include:

• Best national tourism board campaign/DMO campaign
• Best tourism marketing agency
• Best regional/city campaign
• Outstanding contribution to the industry
• Best food destination
• Most innovative use of technology within a destination
• Best digital campaign in tourism
• Best digital influencer in the industry
• Best wellness destination
• Best responsible tourism destination
• Best adventure tourism destination
• Best LGBT destination
• Best PR campaign. - TradeArabia News Service